Speeches

I am very pleased to be here today to express on behalf of the U.S. government and the American people, our continued assistance to the efforts by the people of the greater south as they continue to recover from the devastation caused by hurricane Matthew six months ago.

There has been important progress made in fighting TB in the last two decades, both globally and here in Cambodia, and I want to congratulate the Ministry and the National TB Program on that success. But globally TB remains a major problem. Every year over ten million people are infected, and nearly 2 million lose their lives to TB. Over 4 million of those who fall ill each year do not receive a proper diagnosis or notification of their illness, leading to drug-resistant forms of TB and longer, harsher, and more expensive treatments.

Current estimates indicate that 14.2 percent of Cambodian adults 35 years old and older suffer from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder – a figure nearly six times higher than that of the United States. It is estimated that intergenerational trauma - that is trauma passed on from parents to children - is rampant. Cambodians 35 and younger– most of who are too young to have remembered the Khmer Rouge – also suffer from abnormally high rates of PTSD.

Tuberculosis, or TB, continues to be a major global health concern and one of the top 10 causes of deaths worldwide. The World Health Organization reported that during 2015, 10.4 million people became ill with TB and 1.8 million died from the disease! This indicates that globally, TB has surpassed HIV/AIDS as a major cause of mortality.

Today’s ceremony demonstrates the U.S. Government’s ongoing work, together with the Government of the Philippines, to help bring peace and stability in Mindanao. Graduates, we have no doubt that you will shape a more stable and prosperous future for the Philippines.

One-third of the Filipino population is between the ages of 15 and 24, and the growth that happens during that age range is particularly complex. For those youth who do not finish school, the challenges are even greater.

I feel privileged to be here this morning, just two days before World Tuberculosis Day on March 24th. The Okuryangava Clinic is a crucial health site in our combined effort alongside the Namibian government to fight TB and HIV. Since 2015, with the support of the U.S. government through PEPFAR and USAID, some 350 patients have accessed TB treatment and referral services to HIV care, right here at this TB-Directly Observed Treatment center. Some of those patients are here today. Please join me in a round of applause to recognize their efforts and commitment to beating this disease.

USAID, through its Supporting Forests and Biodiversity project, is today providing 140 sets of forest ranger patrol equipment to rangers located in four significant forest landscapes. We will also provide training on how to use this equipment to forest rangers in Prey Lang, Tonle Srepok, Phnom Prich, and Chheab Wildlife Sanctuaries. We are confident that the Ministry of Environment and the Provincial Departments of Environment across the five provinces will use this equipment to protect these four wildlife sanctuaries.

This program was awarded to PricewaterhouseCoopers to continue providing supply chain systems strengthening support to the government through PEPFAR, with the ultimate goal of expanding health coverage and achieving an AIDS-free generation.

The solar power industry in Cambodia is at a nascent stage, but it has a very bright future. This workshop will demonstrate that solar energy is already economically viable in Cambodia and can boost the supply of energy during the dry season. We are here today to build the foundation that will help solar power become a significant contributor to Cambodia’s energy security. This workshop will also review the technology needed to connect solar energy into Cambodia’s grid. It will look at the technological options and cost for various types of solar energy Photovoltaic, otherwise known as “PV.” Finally, this workshop will help us promote clean energy investment in Cambodia.